Swing analysis system

ABSTRACT

A computer-implemented method of evaluating a movement in a sporting environment may include receiving sensor data regarding player movement in a sporting environment, and receiving a contemporaneous rating evaluation of the movement from an individual associated with the movement. The method may also include displaying characteristics of the sensor data as a function of the rating evaluation.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is directed to a swing analysis system, moreparticularly, to a swing analysis system incorporating input.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Sports players, for example tennis players, golf players, or baseballplayers, both amateurs and professionals, continuously look to improvedifferent aspects of their game. However, due to the complexity of asports swing, sports players often have difficulty determining whichportions of a swing should be changed and which portions should berepeated. Sports players looking to improve often enlist the help ofvideo equipment and/or formal instruction. However, video analysis of asports swing requires significant knowledge of proper swing mechanics tounderstand and diagnose faults. Further, formal instruction may beexpensive and/or time-consuming to enable an instructor to diagnose theplayer's swing.

Both video analysis and formal instruction may also neglect the player'sinherent physical limitations. One common benchmark used to improvesports swings of amateur players is to compare the swing of the amateurplayer to the swing of a professional player. However, analyzing swingsin this manner does not account for the amateur player's limitations,skills, injuries, or other circumstances that may prevent the amateurplayer from repeating the swing of the professional player. Accordingly,there is a need for an analysis system to help sports players repeatrated good swings and behaviors.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to acomputer-implemented method of evaluating a movement in a sportingenvironment. The method may include receiving sensor data regardingplayer movement in a sporting environment, and receiving acontemporaneous rating evaluation of the movement from an individualassociated with the movement. The method may also include displayingcharacteristics of the sensor data as a function of the ratingevaluation.

Various aspects of the present disclosure may include one or more of thefollowing examples: wherein the sensor data may be data from one or moreof an image capture device, a swing sensor, a ball sensor, or anauxiliary sensor coupled to the player; receiving an indication of thetype of player movement, and the displaying of the characteristics mayalso be a function of the type of player movement; wherein theindividual associated with the movement may include one of the player oran individual observing the player movement; wherein the receiving of arating evaluation may be received via voice signal; wherein the ratingevaluation may be a value selected from a predetermined rating scale;wherein the sensor data may be received during a player competition;wherein a command to initiate the receiving of the sensor data or aterminate the receiving of sensor data may be received from theindividual associated with the movement; wherein the displayingcharacteristics may include displaying one or more of portions of thesensor data or variables derived from the sensor data; wherein thedisplaying characteristics may include one or more of video images,swing data, ball data, player movement data; wherein the displaying mayinclude displaying characteristics associated with one rating; whereinthe displaying may include comparing characteristics associated with onerating with characteristics associated with a different rating; whereinthe player movement may be a racket swing; and providing a trainingrecommendation as a function of the swing data and the ratingevaluation.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to acomputer-implemented method of evaluating a swing movement in a sportingenvironment. The method may include receiving a plurality of sets ofsensor data associated with a plurality of swing movements in a sportingenvironment, and receiving a plurality of contemporaneous ratingevaluations of the plurality of swing movements from an individualassociated with the movement. The method may also include displayingcharacteristics of the plurality of sets of sensor data as a function ofthe plurality of rating evaluations.

Various examples of the present disclosure may include one or more ofthe following features: wherein the displaying may include comparingcharacteristics associated with one rating with characteristicsassociated with a different rating; wherein the sensor data may be datafrom one or more of an image capture device, a swing sensor, a ballsensor, or an auxiliary sensor coupled to the player; receiving anindication of the type of swing for each of the plurality of swingmovements, and the displaying of the characteristics may also be afunction of the type of swing; and wherein the displayingcharacteristics may include displaying one or more of portions of thesensor data or variables derived from the sensor data.

In yet another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a computerreadable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by acomputer, may cause the computer to perform a plurality of functions.The functions may include receiving sensor data regarding playermovement in a sporting environment, and receiving a contemporaneousrating evaluation of the movement from an individual associated with themovement. The functions may also include displaying characteristics ofthe sensor data as a function of the rating evaluation.

Various examples of the present disclosure may include the followingfeature: wherein the sensor data may be data from one or more of animage capture device, a swing sensor, a ball sensor, or an auxiliarysensor coupled to the player.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary swing analysis system;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of an exemplary method performed by the swinganalysis system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of another exemplary method performed by theswing analysis system of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 show exemplary screenshots of a mobile device from theswing analysis system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the presentdisclosure described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughoutthe drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

A swing analysis system 100 is depicted in FIG. 1. Swing analysis system100 may include a mobile computing device 102 having a processor 104, adata storage device 105 coupled to processor 104, and a display 106.Mobile computing device 102 may also include an image capture device 108and a user input device 110.

Mobile computing device 102 may be any suitable mobile computing device.In one aspect, mobile computing device 102 may be a cellular telephone(e.g., a smart phone). Mobile computing device 102 may also be anothersuitable mobile computing device, such as, e.g., a personal digitalassistant (“PDA”), tablet computer or any other kind oftouchscreen-enabled device, a personal computer, or a laptop. Mobilecomputing device 102 may have a web browser and/or mobile browserinstalled for receiving and displaying electronic content received fromone or more web servers. Mobile computing device 102 may have anoperating system configured to execute a web or mobile browser, and anytype of application, such as a mobile application.

Mobile computing device 102 may be configured to receive image inputfrom image capture device 108. In one aspect, image capture device 108may be integral with mobile computing device 102. For example, imagecapture device 108 may be a camera or other image capture deviceintegrated with a cellular telephone. Alternatively, image capturedevice 108 may be separate from mobile computing device 102. In someaspects, image capture device 108 may capture images and/or video of aplayer 112, a racket 114, and/or a game implement or ball 116.

Player 112 may be a sports player, e.g., a tennis player, a squashplayer, badminton player, a golf player, a baseball player, or anothertype of sport player. As referenced herein, the term “player” refers toan individual performing movements associated with a sporting activity,be it during actual sporting competition, or during practice or trainingactivities, or solely for the purpose of data capture in accordance withthis disclosure. The remainder of the disclosure will refer to thesports player as a tennis player, but it is understood that thedisclosure will be equally applicable to other sports players and theirassociated accessories, such as a squash player with a squash racket anda squash ball, a badminton player with a badminton racket and ashuttlecock or birdie, a golf player with a golf club and a golf ball, abaseball player with a baseball bat and a baseball, or any other sportsplayer and associated accessories.

FIG. 1 illustrates tennis player 112 having a tennis racket 114 andhitting a tennis ball 116. The movement(s) and/or location(s) of player112, racket 114, and/or ball 116 may be captured by image capture device108 and recorded (e.g., in a memory coupled to processor 104) by mobilecomputing device 102.

In addition, or as an alternative to receiving swing data from imagecapture device 108, mobile computing device 102 may receive swing datafrom a swing sensor 118, ball sensor 120, and/or an auxiliary sensor122. All or portions of the data received from any or all of thesedevices/sensors (108, 118, 120, 122) is referred to as sensor data.

Swing sensor 118 may be any suitable sensor configured to collect racketdata during the course of a swing. Swing sensor 118 may be operativelycoupled to racket 114 in any suitable manner. For example, swing sensor118 may be disposed within a frame or handle of racket 114, coupled toan exterior portion of the racket frame, or attached to the strings ofracket 114, if desired. In some aspects, swing sensor 118 may be rigidlyfixed to racket 114, or may be detachable from racket 114. Swing sensor118 may be configured to sense parameters of a tennis swing such as,e.g., the impact force generated during ball contact, racket speed, ballspeed, racket acceleration, pressure, pressure distribution, strain,impact force, stroke length, impact location, heart rate, caloriesburnt, foot position, string tension, contact time, racket life span,and/or any other values that can be calculated based on known data andcollected data from swing sensor 118.

Ball sensor 120 may be configured to collect ball data during the courseof play. Ball sensor 120 may be disposed within or otherwise coupled togame implement 116. Ball sensor 120 may be configured to senseparameters of play such as, e.g., lob height and air time during aserve, ball speed, ball trajectory, spin, or the like. Ball sensor 120may communicate with mobile computing device 102 in a substantiallysimilar manner that swing sensor 118 communicates with mobile computingdevice 102.

Auxiliary sensor 122 may be configured to track a location of player112. In one aspect, auxiliary sensor 122 may be disposed in the shoes ofplayer 112, a wrist-worn device, a glove, and/or disposed on variousbody parts of player 112 (e.g., elbow, wrist, hand, leg, back, chest,shoulder, or the like), and may be configured to track the locationand/or speed of these body parts during all aspects of play. When in theshoes of player 112, auxiliary input device 122 may include GPS oranother suitable technology to track the player's foot movement, sincefootwork may be vital to executing a proper swing technique. Auxiliarysensor 122 may also include at least one pressure sensor (not shown) tomonitor pressure distribution in the shoes of player 112. Such sensorsmay be placed in the player's insoles. Auxiliary sensor 122 maycommunicate with mobile computing device 102 in a substantially similarmanner that swing sensor 118 communicates with mobile computing device102.

Swing sensor 118, ball sensor 120, and/or auxiliary sensor 122 maycommunicate data to a communication assembly 124 of mobile computingdevice 102 by any suitable mechanism, such as, e.g., BLUETOOTH, BTLE,Wi-Fi, IEEE 802.11, a parallel port, an Ethernet adapter, a FireWire(IEEE 1394) interface, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) and plug, and/orcables, wires, and other suitable wired or wireless connectors.

Mobile computing device 102 may also be configured to receive user inputfrom user input device 110. In one aspect, user input device 110 may beintegral with mobile computing device 102. For example, user inputdevice 110 may be a microphone or other suitable audio capture deviceintegrated with mobile computing device 102. Alternatively, user inputdevice 110 may be separate from mobile computing device 102, such as adevice held or worn by player 112, or an observer, including a device onthe racket 114 itself. In one aspect, user input device 110 may includevoice-recognition capability and receive voice commands from player 112relating to a rating of a last-completed swing. In some aspects, userinput device 110 may include another suitable mechanism, such as, e.g.,a touchpad, touchscreen, or buttons, for player 112 to provide a ratingof a last-completed swing to mobile computing device 102.

In some aspects, mobile computing device 102 may be configured tocommunicate and transmit data over a network 126 (e.g., a cellular,electronic, or internet network) via communication assembly 124. Aprocessor 128 and a data storage device 130 may be coupled to network126 and disposed remotely from mobile computing device 102. One or moreof the functionalities of analysis system 100 may be carried out byprocessor 128 and data storage device 130.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a method 200 for analyzing a tennis swing.Method 200 may include the steps of initiating data capture (step 210),capturing swing data (step 220), receiving a rating of the swing (step230), terminating data capture (step 240), and processing and displayingthe captured data as a function of the received swing rating (step 250).

With respect to the initiating data capture of step 210, mobilecomputing device 102 may receive an indication that a swing is about tobe performed by player 112. In some aspects, player 112, or an observer,may indicate that a swing is about to be performed by vocalizing acommand, such as, e.g., SWING that is recognized by the mobile computingdevice 102. In another aspect, player 112, or an observer, may press abutton or touchscreen of mobile computing device 102, or player 112, oran observer, may provide another suitable indication of initiation, suchas, for example, via a device located on the racket 114, or located onthe player's 112 body or an observer's body.

After initiating data capture in step 210, method 200 may proceed tostep 220 where player 112 may perform a swing, e.g., a tennis swing, andthe data associated with the swing is captured by the mobile computingdevice. The data capture may include one or more of: video data capturedby image capture device 108, racket movement data captured by swingsensor 118 located on the racket 114, ball flight data captured by ballsensor 120 located on the ball 116, and/or player movement data capturedby auxiliary sensor 122.

After the swing is complete, the player 112, or an observer, maycommunicate a rating evaluation of the last-completed swing to mobilecomputing device 102. Because this rating evaluation is based on sensedaspects by an individual (e.g. the player 112 or an observer), such arating evaluation is considered subjective in nature. The rating may becommunicated to mobile computing device 102 in any suitable manner, suchas via voice commands from the player 112 or an observer, via inputsdirectly to the mobile computing device 102 through user input 110, viaa separate rating device functionally connected to the mobile computingdevice 102, or via predetermined and unique movements of the racket,ball, and/or player 112 sensed by the various sensors of the analysissystem 100. Once received, the mobile computing device 102 associates orlinks the ranking with the swing data previously captured.

Mobile computing device 102 may receive a rating along any suitable,predetermined rating scale such as, e.g., a numeric rating scale, aletter rating scale, or a word-associated rating scale. For example,player 112, or an observer, may assign a numerical rating (e.g., 1-3) toa last-completed swing, and communicate that rating to mobile computingdevice 102. In another aspect, player 112, or an observer, may assign aword-associated rating, e.g., EXCELLENT, GOOD, or POOR, to alast-completed swing. The rating of a last-completed swing may becommunicated or input to mobile computing device 102 before theinitiation of a next swing to ensure that a rating is correctlyassociated with the appropriate swing. In some aspects, mobile computingdevice 102 may not collect data on a next or subsequent swing attempt byplayer 112 until a rating on a recently-completed or last-completedswing is communicated to and recorded by mobile computing device 102.Alternatively, mobile computing device may be configured to allow aplayer 112, or an observer, to go back after a plurality of swings torate, re-rate, or delete a particular swing. As understood herein,rating the swing before the initiation of a next swing, or after thecompletion of a plurality of swings as discussed above, are consideredto be contemporaneous ratings.

To help ensure further accuracy of analysis system 100, mobile computingdevice 102 may request that the player confirm the rating, or otherwiseindicate what rating was ultimately received by the mobile computingdevice 102. For example, mobile computing device 102 may requestconfirmation from player 112, or an observer, by providing aconfirmation prompt. The confirmation prompt may be displayed on display106, or the confirmation prompt may be an audio prompt that is output onan audio output device, e.g., a speaker, of mobile computing device 102.In some aspects, the player 112, or an observer, may be required toverify the rating assigned to the last-completed swing by, e.g.,speaking a verbal command, pressing a button on mobile computing device102, selecting an icon in the mobile application, or providing anothersuitable confirmation. In one aspect, the confirmation prompt may onlyrequest an indication from the player 112, or an observer, that therating is incorrect, and may proceed after a set time period if nocorrective indication is received. For example, a different sound,volume, and/or pitch may be played and associated with a unique rating.If player 112, or an observer, does not hear the correctly associatedpitch, volume, and/or sound that is associated with the intended rating,a verbal or other suitable command may be given to cancel and/or correctthe previous rating.

During the rating receiving step 230, player 112, or an observer, mayadditionally or alternatively indicate a type of swing that wasperformed, such as, e.g., SERVE, FOREHAND, BACKHAND, VOLLEY, LOB, SMASH,or another suitable swing. Identifying the swing type may assist in thedata analysis by comparing and analyzing data from equivalent swingtypes, and identifying relevant analysis parameters for the particularswing type. Alternatively, the indication of swing type by the player112 or observer can be done before or after the rating receiving step230.

In some aspects, data capture (step 220) may capture swing data for apredetermined time period once data capture has been initiated (step210). For example, sensor data may be captured for 10 seconds, 30seconds, 1 minute, 5, minutes, 10 minutes, etc., from the initiation ofdata capture. It should be noted, however, that any other suitable timeperiod may alternatively be utilized. Further, the time period could bevariable, such as data capture during actual player competition.Alternatively or in addition, player 112 may provide an indication tomobile computing device 102 to terminate data capture. This indicationcan be provided in any similar manner as discussed above with respect tothe initiation of data capture (step 210).

Alternatively or in addition, termination of data capture may be afunction of the number of swing data sets captured. For example, swinganalysis system 100 may require a minimum number of swing data sets tocomplete an analysis. For example, player 112 may be required to performand rate a minimum number of swings or same type of swings, e.g., aminimum number of serves. In some aspects, a minimum number of completedswings assigned a given rating may be required, e.g., analysis systemmay require that the player perform at least 10 EXCELLENT-rated swingsand at least 10 POOR-rated swings. If the threshold number of swing datasets has been met, or data capture has been otherwise terminated, method200 may proceed to step 250.

At Step 250, processor 104 may process/analyze the captured data fromthe completed swings. The processing or analyzing may include all or apart of the captured data and can result in numerous different swingvariables or characteristics representing aspects of the swing. Thecaptured data and/or resulting analytics can be stored in a data storageof the mobile communication device 102, displayed, or sent to the remotenetwork 126 for processing, or further processing, via the remoteprocessor 128, and/or stored in remote data storage 130

Processor 104 may associate a unique identifier with each swingperformed by player 112. Thus, each unique identifier may be associatedwith a set of data (representing a swing) collected at mobile computingdevice 102 via one or more of image capture device 108, swing sensor118, ball sensor 120, and/or auxiliary sensor 122. Each uniqueidentifier may also be associated with a user input that isrepresentative of the rating assigned by player 112, or an observer, tothe swing associated with the given unique identifier. Processor 104 mayanalyze each set of captured swing data to calculate, determine,identify, and/or extract one or more swing variables or characteristicsfrom each set of captured data. These swing variables or characteristicsmay include, but are not limited to, swing speed, racket acceleration,swing trajectory, arm position, shoulder position, elbow position, wristposition, foot position, lower body position, upper body position, ballposition, height of lob in a serve, amount of time a ball is airbornebefore being hit by the racket in a serve, among other features. In someaspects one or more swing variables may be extracted from images/videocaptured by image capture device 108 by any suitable video analysissoftware (e.g., Dartfish® or the like). In one example, video analysisof a swing may include the tracking and analysis of markers coupled toone or more of the player 112, racket 114, and ball 116.

A method 300 for processing and displaying the captured data is shown inFIG. 3. Method 300 may begin at step 310, where processor 104 mayprocess/analyze and correlate the swing variables calculated,identified, and/or extracted and stored in a database in order todisplay data showing areas of improvement for the player 112 and/orshowing correlations between extracted features and the rating appliedby the player 112 or an observer (i.e., ratings).

For example, processor 104 may identify correlations between swingvariables determined from swings having the same rating (e.g., amongstall swings given a 3 or “EXCELLENT” rating by player 112 or an observer(step 310)). After identifying correlations between swing variableshaving the same rating, method 300 may proceed to step 320, whereprocessor 104 may compare correlated swing variables belonging to afirst performance rating to correlated swing variables belonging to asecond performance rating to identify feature differences between swingshaving the first and second performance ratings.

For example, processor 104 may compare correlated swing featuresbelonging to a first rating category, e.g., rating number 3, orEXCELLENT swings, to correlated extracted features belonging to a secondrating category, e.g., rating number 2, or GOOD swings. In performingthis comparison, processor 104 may determine swing variable variationsor differences between differently-rated swings of player 112. Forexample, processor 104 may detect changes in swing speed, racketacceleration, swing trajectory, arm position, shoulder position, elbowposition, wrist position, foot position, lower body position, upper bodyposition, ball position, height of lob in a serve, amount of time a ballis airborne before being hit by the racket in a serve, among otherfeatures.

After processor 104 identifies swing variable differences between swingsbelonging to different rating categories, method 300 may proceed to step330, where feedback may be provided to player 112 via, e.g., display 106of mobile computing device 102.

In one aspect, providing feedback to player 112 may include displaying arepresentation of one or more completed swings on display 106. FIG. 4depicts an exemplary screenshot of mobile device 102. In the aspectshown by FIG. 4, representations of two swings performed by player 112are shown side-by-side on display 106. A representation may be an imageor video replay of player 112 performing the swing, or may be anothersuitable representation, such as, e.g., an animation. In one aspect, afirst representation 402 may be representative of a first swingperformed by player 112. First representation 402 may be a swingidentified by processor 104 to be representative of swings belonging toa particular rating category (e.g., GOOD). A second representation 404may be displayed simultaneously on display 106 with first representation402. Second representation 404 may be a swing identified by processor104 as representative of swings belong to a different rating category(e.g., POOR). By displaying the first representation 402 concurrent withthe second representation 404 on display 106, player 112 may viewfeature differences between swings belonging to different swing ratingcategories identified by player 112. In some aspects, first and secondrepresentations may be manipulated and/or replayed according to apreference of player 112. For example, player 112 may choose to enlargeor minimize one or more of first and second representations 402, 404. Inanother example, player 112 may choose to alter the playback speed offirst and second representations 402, 404, play first and secondrepresentation 402, 404 simultaneously, and/or alter any other suitableviewing parameter.

An indication may be displayed on one or more of first representation402 and second representation 404. The indication may be any suitableindication that can be visualized on display 106, such as, e.g., anarrow, a marker, a highlight, vertical or horizontal lines, or othersuitable indications. The indication may identify a feature differenceof swings belonging to differently-rated swings, such as, e.g., thedifferently-rated swings shown by first and second representations 402,404. For example, if processor 104 identifies arm position as a featuredifference between swings of different rating categories, the indicationmay highlight arm position on first representation 402 and/or secondrepresentation 404. If multiple feature differences exist between swingsbelonging to different rating categories, a user may select to viewmultiple indications at the same time or one at a time. In someexamples, a text, audio, or other indication may be provided in additionto a visual indication.

FIG. 5 depicts another exemplary screenshot of mobile device 102. In theaspect shown by FIG. 5, processor 104 may also output the swingvariables correlated with a given rating category (e.g., correlatedextracted features from GOOD-rated swings) chart form on display 106. Itshould be noted that the swing variables may be displayed in any othersuitable form, such as, e.g., graphs, text, lines, or the like.Processor 104 may be configured to display the swing variables common toone or more different rating categories at the same time (e.g.,displaying the correlated extracted swing variables from POOR swingssimultaneous with the correlated extracted swing variables from GOODswings). The display of information in this manner may allow player 112,a coach, or another interested party to identify swing variables commonto swings of different rating categories.

In the exemplary aspect shown in FIG. 5, swing variables or parametersmay be listed in a column 502. Values for the swing variables orparameters listed in column 502 associated with a first rating (e.g.,associated with GOOD swings) may be displayed in a column 504.Similarly, values for the swing variables or parameters listed in column502 that are associated with a second rating (e.g., associated with POORswings) may be displayed in a column 506. In some exemplary aspects, thedifference between the values associated with the first and secondratings may be displayed in a column 508. Columns 502-508 may relate toany suitable swing variables or parameter disclosed herein or related toa racket swing.

In one aspect, mobile computing device 102 may be configured to identifyand display the swing variables differences identified between swingsassigned a given rating, such as, e.g., the swing variable differencesbetween an EXCELLENT swing and a GOOD swing. That is, mobile computingdevice 102 may be configured to display player tendencies that may causea GOOD swing to be executed instead of an EXCELLENT swing. In anotherexample, mobile computing device may rank swing variables having thegreatest deviation between various ratings. For example, a first swingvariable, e.g., racket speed may exhibit the greatest percentage changebetween EXCELLENT and GOOD swings, indicating that the first variable(e.g., racket speed) may be an important feature for player 112. On thecontrary, a second swing variable (e.g., stroke length) may remainunchanged between EXCELLENT and GOOD swings, indicating to the playerthat the second swing variable (e.g., stroke length) is not an importantswing variable to focus on.

In some aspects, mobile computing device 102 may display a percentage ofeach rating type assigned during a specific capture period (e.g., 50%EXCELLENT, 30% GOOD, 20% POOR). Mobile computing device 102 may trackthese percentages over multiple capture periods to allow player 112, orother party, to help identify rating trends over time.

In some aspects, analysis system 100 may track swings over multiplesessions. In one aspect, analysis system 100 may be configured tocompare features to determine how player tendencies have changed overtime. For example, after a first session, analysis system 100 may havedetermined a first feature difference (e.g., player 112 starts amovement of his right arm too quickly in BAD swings compared toEXCELLENT swings) between two different swing rating categories. Player112, having knowledge of the first feature difference identified in afirst training session, may correct the first feature difference via,e.g., practice sessions. At a subsequent training session utilizinganalysis system 100, player 112 may have corrected the first featuredifference and thus analysis system 100 may detect a different, secondfeature difference between two different swing rating categories of thesecond session. That is, because player 112 may have corrected the earlymovement of the right arm that was identified as the first featuredifference between two different swing categories of the first session,the different, second feature difference may be identified between twodifferent swing categories of the second session. Alternatively, ifanalysis system 100 continues to identify the first difference in thesecond or subsequent training session, player 112 may be reminded tocontinue to working to correct the first feature difference. In someaspects, analysis system 100 may be configured to identify a change inthe magnitude of a feature difference over time. For example, analysissystem 100 may indicate to player 112 that the first feature differencehas been improved upon or worsened since the first training session.

In some aspects, processor 104 may be configured to make recommendationsbased on an analysis of completed swings. For example, processor 104 maybe configured to suggest a training regimen to player 112 based on a theswing variables alone, or difference identified between different swingcategories. In some aspects, processor 104 may be configured to suggestequipment recommendations (e.g., a lighter or heavier racket) or swingpattern recommendations (e.g., a non-standard string patternconfiguration) based on one or more feature differences identifiedbetween different swing categories. In some aspects, player 112 maycommunicate equipment information and string pattern information toprocessor 104 via mobile computing device 102. Processor 104 may utilizethe communicated equipment and/or string pattern information to makeequipment and/or string pattern recommendations to player 112.

In some aspects, processor 104 may be configured to recommend thatplayer 112 view one or more videos, demonstrations, lessons, or similarprogramming, based on an analysis of player 112. For example, ifprocessor 104 determines that player 112 may improve swing performanceby improving elbow positioning during swings, processor 104 may suggestthat player 112 access a particular video, demonstration, lesson, orsimilar programming focused on proper elbow positioning. Suchprogramming may include videos of actual tennis players or virtualrepresentations of tennis players (e.g., avatars), and may beaccompanied by audio instructions and discussion.

As noted above, in some aspects, a coach, instructor, or other suitableparty may rate swings taken by player 112 to assist in an evaluation ofplayer 112.

In some aspects, analysis system 100 may be configured to analyze asequence of tennis events or swings. For example, swing mechanics,footwork, positioning, and other parameters of a serve and volley may beanalyzed.

As noted above, the above described analysis system 100 may beconfigured to perform similar analysis based on ratings of players 112in other physical activities or sports such as, e.g., golf swings,baseball swings, hockey shots or passes, throwing motions, kickingmotions, basketball activities, or other suitable activities. Whenanalyzing certain sport motions not utilizing an implement (e.g.,throwing motions, basketball activities), analysis system 100 may relyon one or more sensors coupled to player 112 and/or on video analysis ofdata captured by image capture device 108.

When analyzing various swings, e.g., golf swings, in addition to ratingswings according to a rating, a player 112 may utilize one or moreadditional or alternative rating systems. For example, player 112 mayrate swings according to one or more of HOOK, STRAIGHT, and/or SLICE tohelp correct a recurring trajectory issue with a golf swing.

The analysis systems of the present disclosure may assist tennis playersor other athletes in determining feature differences betweendifferently-rated swing or sports movement categories. Thus, a tennisplayer 112 may quickly identify, without formal instruction, features ofa tennis swing causing lapses in performance.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the disclosed analysissystem without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Other aspectsof the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art fromconsideration of the specification and practice of the disclosuredisclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples beconsidered as exemplary only. The following disclosure identifies someother exemplary aspects.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method of evaluating amovement in a sporting environment, the method comprising: receivingsensor data regarding player movement in a sporting environment;receiving a contemporaneous rating evaluation of the movement from anindividual associated with the movement; and displaying characteristicsof the sensor data as a function of the rating evaluation.
 2. The methodof claim 1, wherein the sensor data is data from one or more of an imagecapture device, a swing sensor, a ball sensor, or an auxiliary sensorcoupled to the player.
 3. The method of claim 1, further includingreceiving an indication of the type of player movement, and thedisplaying of the characteristics are also a function of the type ofplayer movement.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the individualassociated with the movement includes one of the player or an individualobserving the player movement.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein thereceiving of a rating evaluation is received via voice signals.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the rating evaluation is a value selectedfrom a predetermined rating scale.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein thesensor data is received during a player competition.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein a command to initiate the receiving of the sensor dataor a terminate the receiving of sensor data is received from theindividual associated with the movement.
 9. The method of claim 1,wherein the displaying characteristics includes displaying one or moreof portions of the sensor data or variables derived from the sensordata.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the displaying characteristicsinclude one or more of video images, swing data, ball data, playermovement data.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the displayingincludes displaying characteristics associated with one rating.
 12. Themethod of claim 9, wherein the displaying includes comparingcharacteristics associated with one rating with characteristicsassociated with a different rating.
 12. The method of claim 1, whereinthe player movement is a racket swing.
 13. The method of claim 1,further including providing a training recommendation as a function ofthe swing data and the rating evaluation.
 14. A computer-implementedmethod of evaluating a swing movement in a sporting environment, themethod comprising: receiving a plurality of sets of sensor dataassociated with a plurality of swing movements in a sportingenvironment; receiving a plurality of contemporaneous rating evaluationsof the plurality of swing movements from an individual associated withthe movement; displaying characteristics of the plurality of sets ofsensor data as a function of the plurality of rating evaluations. 15.The method of claim 14, wherein the displaying includes comparingcharacteristics associated with one rating with characteristicsassociated with a different rating.
 16. The method of claim 14, whereinthe sensor data is data from one or more of an image capture device, aswing sensor, a ball sensor, or an auxiliary sensor coupled to theplayer.
 17. The method of claim 14, further including receiving anindication of the type of swing for each of the plurality of swingmovements, and the displaying of the characteristics are also a functionof the type of swing.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein the displayingcharacteristics includes displaying one or more of portions of thesensor data or variables derived from the sensor data.
 19. A computerreadable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by acomputer, cause the computer to perform a plurality of functions,including functions to: receive sensor data regarding player movement ina sporting environment; receive a contemporaneous rating evaluation ofthe movement from an individual associated with the movement; anddisplay characteristics of the sensor data as a function of the ratingevaluation.
 20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19,wherein the sensor data is data from one or more of an image capturedevice, a swing sensor, a ball sensor, or an auxiliary sensor coupled tothe player.